Serbia beat Italy 76-64 in their World Cup match on 31 August 2026. The visitors took control early and never let the hosts close the gap, finishing with a comfortable 12-point margin. Italy had chances to stay within striking distance but could not convert when it mattered.
The shooting numbers tell the story. Italy managed 17 field goals from 49 attempts, while Serbia hit 22 from 54. Both sides made seven three-pointers each, but Serbia's overall efficiency from the field was noticeably higher. Free throws also played a part — Serbia converted 25 of 32 attempts compared to Italy's 23 of 26.
Rebounding gave Serbia additional opportunities. They pulled down 31 boards to Italy's 23, including 14 offensive rebounds that extended possessions. Italy committed 15 turnovers against Serbia's 13, and the extra possessions made the difference in a game that could have gone either way.
Italy's recent form has been uneven. They lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina 76-78 on 28 August after beating Estonia 83-61 and Lithuania 82-81. The losses to Iceland and Slovenia before that suggest consistency is still a work in progress for the hosts.
Serbia arrived in better rhythm. They had beaten Iceland 102-73 on 28 August and survived two tight games against France, winning 90-87 and losing 90-91. The victory over Italy extends their momentum heading into the next phase of the tournament.
The result leaves Serbia with positive momentum after a mixed run in France. Italy must find a way to protect the ball and control the paint if they want to progress further. The gap in the standings will become clearer once the remaining fixtures are played.
